The Spiderwick Chronicles

The fantasy genre has fairly exploded over the past 10 years or so, giving us some great films and, inevitably, a load of trash. So it was with moderate expectations that I went to see The Spiderwick Chronicles. Walking out as the lights came back up I was not disappointed - well, maybe just a little. Slightly peeved perhaps that the movie was not better than I expected.
There were some highlights: Freddie Highmore was excellent as usual, playing two of the four main characters. Also refreshing - there were moments when some of the bad guys actually felt dangerous. This is so unfortunately rare in childrens films that it's worth remarking upon - many directors don't seem to realise that it takes more than an evil cackle and a bad squint convey menace. But when a main character recieves a nasty set of puncture wounds to their leg you begin to get the picture. That got me interested. Then when hydrogen peroxide was liberally applied (with realistic results) they had me hooked. I felt the pain.
However. These few bright spots were not enough to hide the looming elephant of mediocrity. The film was shot adequately, the visual effects were adequate, the script was trying to be adequate - but I don't go to the cinema to see adequate films. And as for some of the actors... All of the live action actors, I should say, excluding Highmore. At best they were weak, at worst maudlin.
The real downfall of this film though is the ending. Good defeats evil not by grit or ingenuity or moral superiority - but virtually by accident. And while technically it wasn't a deus ex machina triumph, it was as close to it as makes no difference.
The Spiderwick Chronicles is worth watching if you're 8 to 12 and it's a rainy Sunday afternoon. Otherwise don't bother.

Rating: For those of you who are familiar with my 1-10 movie rankings, this is a new version not to be compared with past ratings.
1 = Blindingly Awful; 5 = Tolerable; 10 = Masterpiece.
Spiderwick, thanks largely to Highmore, manages a 5.

Long Time Away

Wow. I cannot believe how long it's been since I last posted. At this point it would be traditional to remark on how much things have changed - well, in one way they have, in many ways they have not. I'm working now, in the Film and TV industry no less.

Yes, "The Industry", which from the outside seems like the Holy Grail, but once you're in you realise that it's neither holy, nor a grail, but merely a moderately dirty cup that you may get a nice drink from once in a while. Still, it pays well enough, and it's not bad work. Rather be doing this than a great number of other things.

I have to keep reminding myself that I'm only 21, that I have plenty more time to do interesting and meaningful stuff - but it doesn't feel like that. It feels more like a quarter of my life is gone and past, and time is running out. Which is actually the case.

Anyway, this post turning rather depressing, which isn't how I really feel - I've got a great set of friends, good church, and there are libraries and video shops - honestly what else could I ask for?

On another note, I'm thinking about starting to review films on here. Oh, I know it's not like there isn't enough review sites, but everyone has a different slant and I like to express mine. It's possible some people might like to hear it as well I suppose. So I'll probably be updating here a wee bit more often than has been the norm of late.

PS Disclaimer: Just because I review a film, does not mean I am recommending it. Merely that it caught my interest for one reason or another. I recommend movies to people individually, not in general, for obvious reasons. If you'd like a recommendation, feel free to ask in the comments or contact me via email. Cheers.